Sweet Escape: 10 Destination Romances for Spring Break

Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura; Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan; The Pairing by Casey McQuiston; Happy Place by Emily Henry — From left: *Temple Swoon* by Jo Segura; *Before I Let Go* by Kennedy Ryan; *The Pairing* by Casey McQuiston; *Happy Place* by Emily Henry. Photo:
Berkley; Forever; Macmillan; Berkley

After months of hacking coughs and hibernation, I doubt I’m the only person looking for an escape hatch this spring. Luckily, romance novels are just as good as any getaway car. They spark joy and offer hope, even during the hardest times. Even if, let’s say, you’ve been publicly canceled and need to reinvent yourself. In which case, you might just find yourself fleeing to Alaska and jumping into the arms of a man who embodies all the romance tropes you’ve sworn off, like the heroine in my upcoming novel, Any Trope but You.

But even if you’re just craving a change of scenery after a long winter, the 10 romances below will be sure to scratch your itch.

01 of 10

'Under Your Spell' by Laura Wood

After a gutting breakup and no job prospects, Clemmie, daughter of a legendary rockstar, finds herself grudgingly working (and falling) for Theo Eliott, the world’s hottest musician, despite her vow to never date a celebrity. Set in a secluded house on the English coast, this tender, laugh-out-loud rom-com had me daydreaming about absconding to the English countryside with Harry Styles.

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02 of 10

'Zoe Brennan, First Crush' by Laura Piper Lee

Zoe Brennan is determined to win a prestigious wine festival to uplift her family’s vineyard, but after discovering that her secret partner in a blindfolded one-night stand is her childhood crush and her family’s newly hired vintner, Zoe worries she might be the one woman who could ruin her plans… and her heart. Set in gorgeous Blue Ridge wine country where I have family roots, I couldn’t drink down this hilarious, sapphic romance fast enough — Laura Piper Lee is one of my favorite auto-buy authors!

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03 of 10

'Temple of Swoon' by Jo Segura

A determined archaeologist and a secretive journalist battle wits (and undeniable chemistry) in a perilous race through the Amazon—where the biggest danger might just be falling for each other. If you’re looking for an escape that includes nail-biting adventure and steamy chemistry, look no further than this romp through the jungle that will have you flipping pages as fast as you can.

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04 of 10

'Happy Place' by Emily Henry

Exes who haven’t told their friends they’ve split are forced to share a bedroom — and fake their relationship — during one last idyllic week at their beloved Maine cottage, where the only thing harder than pretending is ignoring how badly they still want each other. As someone who calls Maine home, I couldn’t not include this EmHen gem that features her signature humor, magnetic prose and descriptions of summertime in Vacationland that are so vivid, you’ll feel like you just bit into a lobster roll.

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05 of 10

'Before I Let Go' by Kennedy Ryan

Once madly in love but broken by life’s hardships, exes-turned-business-partners Yasmen and Josiah find themselves drawn back together — until one stolen kiss threatens to reignite everything they lost… and everything that still lingers between them. Set in Atlanta, Georgia, I was unprepared for the blazing heat and emotional knockout punches this incredible book delivered — and I’m still recovering from the best possible book hangover.

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06 of 10

'How to End a Love Story' by Yulin Kuang

Thirteen years after a tragic accident shattered their lives, a bestselling author and a screenwriter are forced to work together on a TV adaptation — rekindling old wounds, unresolved feelings and a love story that was never meant to be simple. Set in sunny Los Angeles with the kind of dry humor that zings just when you need it, this gorgeous exploration of trauma bonds, grief and healing had me turning pages well past my bedtime.

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07 of 10

'Here We Go Again' by Alison Cochrun

Once childhood best friends turned rivals and current stuck-in-a-rut teachers are forced on a cross-country road trip with their dying mentor — where old wounds and unresolved feelings might just lead them back to each other. I am always a sucker for a road trip romance, and this beautiful, queer, emotional powerhouse of a story left me laughing and ugly crying in equal measure.

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08 of 10

'Flirting with Disaster' by Naina Kumar

Trapped by a hurricane with the husband she came home to divorce, a high-powered lawyer must decide if she’s truly ready to move on, or if love, like a storm, has a way of changing everything in its path. Naina Kumar is one of my favorite new voices in romance, and this second-chance love story set in Texas is the swoon-worthy retelling of Sweet Home Alabama I didn’t know I needed.

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09 of 10

'The Pairing' by Casey McQuiston

Four years after their breakup, estranged exes accidentally book the same European food tour, where a hookup competition, breathtaking scenery and lingering feelings threaten to turn their "friendly" rivalry into something much messier. There is no book I wouldn’t devour by Casey McQuiston, but this journey through Europe takes the cake for the most decadently written, heartstoppingly tender love story I’ve read in recent memory.

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10 of 10

'This Summer Will Be Different' by Carley Fortune

Every summer trip to Prince Edward Island, Lucy tries not to end up in the bed of Felix, her best friend’s off-limits brother, but this summer, resisting their growing feelings for one another might be the real challenge. Not only does Carley Fortune write the swooniest love stories in prose worth sighing over, but her settings (P.E.I. in this case) are like living characters you’ll want to become best friends with.

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Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine will be released on Tuesday, April 1, and is available to pre-order now wherever books are sold.